ZD_15 Audio technology I

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/1. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
doc. Ing. Jiří Schimmel, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Ing. Kamil Říha, Ph.D. (seminar tutor)
Ladislav Mirvald (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. Ing. Jiří Schimmel, Ph.D.
Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Ing. Alena Albíniová
Supplier department: Department of Musicology – Faculty of Arts
Prerequisites
ZD_06 Math and Physics
The knowledge of basic laws and quantities in electrical circuits is required as well as the knowledge of the characteristics of electric circuit elements, periodical and non-periodical signal spectra, and basic knowledge in the area of continuous- and discrete-time systems.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to make students familiar with the operation principle and use of analog and digital audio equipment, computer digital audio workstations and their installation in sound studios.
Learning outcomes
After course completion, students are to: - describe the structure of the mixing console, explain its operation and use it for recording or sound reinforcement,
- explain the principles of measurement of level and other parameters of analog and digital audio signals,
- describe the structure and operation principle of the basic types of audio effects and use them for audio processing,
- explain the principle of digital audio signal processing and transmission,
- explain the principle and structure of digital audio signal hard disc recording (HDR),
- describe the structure of digital audio workstations (DAW),
Syllabus
  • 1. Sound and audio signals, audio signals in the electrical system, basic components of the audio chain, distribution systems.
  • 2. Audio equipment, properties and installation, measurement and display of audio signal properties: VU and PP meter, phase meter and pan meter, vectorscope, display of audio signal spectrum.
  • 3. Mixing desk: input circuits, equalizer, input unit, bus, outputs, connection of external devices, Mute and Solo functions, talkback.
  • 4. Analog and digital devices for audio recording, HDR systems, DAW, sound cards, audio signal editing, basic procedures of nonlinear audio recording.
  • 5. Digital processing of audio signals: sampling, anti-aliasing LPF, quantization, normalization, dithering.
  • 6. Audio effects: frequency filters, dynamic processors, delay line effects, modulation effects, spatial effects, acoustic space simulations, nonlinear effects.
  • 7. Digital audio interfaces: latency in digital audio transmission, time division of channels, point-to-point interfaces (AES, ADAT, MADI) and network interfaces (EtherSound, Dante, AVB).
  • 8. Computer audio processing systems: real-time audio signal processing, plug-in technology.
Literature
    required literature
  • WATKINSON, John. The art of digital audio. Third edition. New York: Focal press, Taylor & Francis group, 2001, xiv, 752. ISBN 9780240515878. info
  • FORRÓ, Daniel. Počítače a hudba. Praha: Grada, 1994. Musitronika. info
    recommended literature
  • Zölzer, U.: DAFX - Digital Audio Effects (Second Edition). John Wiley & Sons, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-470-66599-2
  • EVEREST, F. Alton and Ken C. POHLMANN. Master handbook of acoustics. Sixth edition. New York: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015, xviii, 622. ISBN 9780071841047. info
  • STREICHER, Ron – EVEREST, Alton F. The New Stereo Soundbook 3rd edition. Audio Engineering Associates, 2006, ISBN 978-0966516210
Teaching methods
Lectures: explanations of the basic principles, subject methodology, examples of problems and their solutions. Homework: self-practicing of selected topics from lectures Laboratory exercises: practical mastering of the themes presented in lectures. Active participation of students is required.
Assessment methods
In order to be awarded the credit, it is necessary to complete all laboratory exercises in regular or substitute terms and at least 80% to pass a test of theoretical knowledge composed of a range of questions thematically focused according to the course syllabus.
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2025/ZD_15